Two Wheel Tractor Black Currant Harvester
Problem statement
The black currant market faced significant challenges for many years, as the fruit was banned in the United States until the mid-1900s. This has created barriers to entry for small and local farmers, as most black currant harvesting equipment is either too large or prohibitively expensive. Currently, the primary solution for currant harvesting in the Midwest is a large European harvester, which can cost up to $30,000. This makes large-scale harvesting financially unfeasible for small-scale currant farmers in Wisconsin. Our goal is to design a more affordable and efficient black currant harvester tailored for smaller farmers. The harvester should be compact, capable of navigating tight turns, and compatible with solar power to enhance sustainability.
Team members
Andreas Moussa – communicator
Jaxon Duberstein – accountant
Louis Kehoe – admin
Nick Wojcik – facilitator
Client
Tom Bryan
UW – Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences